United States names roster for final slate of Rivalry Series games
USA Hockey unveiled a 21-player roster Friday for the final leg of the Rivalry Series.
The group exclusively features players in the PWHL, as collegiate players aren't available for selection in February.
Canada is up 2-1 in the five-game series after the first three contests in November. The U.S. took the first game 7-2, but Canada responded with a 5-4 shootout win and a 4-1 victory to close out the slate in the United States.
The last two games are scheduled for Feb. 6 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Feb. 8 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Forwards
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Hannah Bilka | Boston |
| Alex Carpenter | New York |
| Jesse Compher | Toronto |
| Kendall Coyne Schofield | Minnesota |
| Britta Curl-Salemme | Minnesota |
| Taylor Heise | Minnesota |
| Gabbie Hughes | Ottawa |
| Hilary Knight | Boston |
| Kelly Pannek | Minnesota |
| Gabby Rosenthal | New York |
| Hayley Scamurra | Toronto |
| Grace Zumwinkle | Minnesota |
Six forwards from November's team - Abbey Murphy, Casey O'Brien, Joy Dunne, Kirsten Simms, Lacey Eden, and Tessa Janecke - are unavailable as NCAA players. They are replaced by Toronto Sceptres' Jesse Compher and New York Sirens' Gabby Rosenthal.
Compher featured at the Rivalry Series last February, and she played at the 2022 Olympics. The power forward has already eclipsed her totals from last season in the PWHL with three goals and six points through 11 games.
Rosenthal returns to the U.S. squad for the first time since the 2022-23 Rivalry Series. The 25-year-old didn't play last season after finishing her career at Ohio State in 2023. She has one goal and two points 10 games into her PWHL career.
Veteran star Kendall Coyne Schofield leads all Americans with five goals and 11 points in the PWHL this season.
Defenders
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Sydney Bard | Boston |
| Cayla Barnes | Montreal |
| Savannah Harmon | Toronto |
| Megan Keller | Boston |
| Ally Simpson | New York |
| Anna Wilgren | Montreal |
The U.S. blue line sees significant changes with Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, Haley Winn, and Rory Guilday unavailable because of NCAA commitments. Boston Fleet's Sydney Bard and Montreal Victoire's Anna Wilgren step in on defense.
Bard will make her senior national team debut. The 24-year-old has one goal and two points in 11 games with the Fleet after a productive career at Colgate University. She was drafted 22nd overall by Boston last summer.
Wilgren, who last played in the Rivalry Series in December 2023, has one goal and two points in 11 games this season. The 25-year-old has recently been playing on Montreal's top pairing alongside Erin Ambrose.
Fleet star Megan Keller paces all U.S. PWHL defenders with three goals and nine points in 11 games this season.
Goaltenders
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Aerin Frankel | Boston |
| Nicole Hensley | Minnesota |
| Gwyneth Philips | Ottawa |
The United States made no changes in the crease from its November roster.
Frankel remains the clear No. 1 between the pipes with a .925 save percentage in nine starts this campaign. She stopped 35 of 36 shots in a 4-1 win over the Sceptres on Wednesday.
Maddie Rooney remains off the roster despite starting over Nicole Hensley this season for the Minnesota Frost. The 27-year-old has played more games than Gwyneth Philips as well, and she sports a .923 save percentage in her eight contests. Rooney last appeared on the national team in the 2022-23 Rivalry Series, and she backstopped the United States to gold at the 2018 Olympics.
View Canada's roster here.